Container closure comprising a sound-producing means

ABSTRACT

A closure for use with a pressurised container and configured to produce an opening sound is provided. The closure includes an openable closure member and an outer wrapping that covers at least a portion of the closure member tightly so that upon opening the closure member, content of the container escaping under the effect of the pressure deforms and/or forces open and/or sets vibrating the wrapping while producing a sound.

The invention relates to a closure for a pressurised container with means for producing an opening sound.

Commercially available on the one hand are bottles with crown caps and on the other hand bottles with swing top closures, the latter being preferred by users due to the striking deep sound (“plop”) that occurs upon opening. Moreover, a clear opening sound which is caused by pressure equalisation between the content of the bottle and the surroundings has the advantage of indicating the integrity of the bottle closure, and so when it is missing suggests that the content of the bottle may have been tampered with or that the content of the bottle has been manipulated.

However, swing top closures are more expensive to produce and additionally have the disadvantage of the bottles being equipped with them being difficult to introduce into a deposit circuit or a disposal system.

From the patent literature numerous bottle closures are known which supposedly produce a clear opening sound without the use of swing top closures. Therefore crown caps were proposed with which an opening sound is produced by means of additional elastic bulges which are moulded onto the inside of the crown cap such that they press against the upper internal wall of the neck of the bottle (provided the bottle is sealed), and when the bottle is opened are abruptly released from the neck of the bottle, by means of which a sound is produced (JP 01-139350 A, JP 04-018255 A, JP 07-257628A, JP 07-277358A and WO 2004/067402 A1). However, these closures have various disadvantages: Conventional crown caps can not be used in this way, but rather special caps have to be produced which have said bulges on the inside. Moreover, production is expensive because the sound-producing parts are connected directly to the sealing parts of the cap and must observe the dimensional tolerances of the latter. Finally, the type of sound which can be produced with this type of closure is restricted to a “plop”.

Furthermore, from the patent literature a bottle closure is known which produces a whistling sound by the escaping gas flowing to the outside through a pipe fitted in the bottle opening after the opening of the actual cap. (NL 8001976 and JP 2000 085 779A). However, this type of sound producer is relatively expensive to produce and additionally has the disadvantage that it also remains in the bottle after removing the closure, and this would bother most users of drink bottles because the pipe disposed in the neck of the bottle makes it difficult e.g. to introduce drinking straws or slices of lemon into the neck of the bottle and for the drink to flow out.

Means for producing whistling sounds are also proposed for cans of drink (U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,718 A and JP 2000 006 968 A). However, as with the aforementioned pipes in the necks of bottles, these sound producers also have the disadvantage that that container must be produced in a modified form before filling and closing, and so the sound-producing means can not be fitted subsequently.

All of the aforementioned possibilities have the additional disadvantage that the material used to produce the sound comes into contact with the liquid in the bottle—i.e. it must where necessary be food safe, and this makes production more expensive.

Finally, from the patent literature a sound producer is known with which the material of the bottle cover is moulded in the manner of the children's “snap action frog” toy, and in the closed state of the bottle is in the semi-stable state so that upon opening the bottle, as a result of pressure equalisation, it jumps into the stable state and in so doing produces a sound (JP 2004196318 A). This type of sound producer is only suitable for screw closures though, and not however for crown caps because the latter are deformed upon opening, and due to this, the sound producer, which is dependent upon the holding of its outer shape in order to function, is prevented from functioning, or at least its function is interrupted. Moreover, another disadvantage of this sound producer is that closure parts must be produced which have relatively critical dimensions, and so are more expensive than the conventional crown caps.

The object which forms the basis of the invention is to provide sound-producing means with which different opening sounds can be produced, which is inexpensive to produce, and which does not come into contact with the content of the container. Moreover, it should be made possible for the sound-producing means to be fitted subsequently to a container already produced and filled without taking into account the technical requirements of the sound production.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a closure with the features of Patent Claim 1.

The essential advantage results from the fact that the sound-producing means (wrapping) is fitted outside of the container interior. Therefore, when designing the sound producer, as regards shape and material, one need hardly take into account the requirements of the container seal or the cleanliness of the container content. The plurality of materials and shapes which it thus becomes possible to use enables different designs for the production of different sounds, in particular popping, plopping or whistling sounds. Moreover, the properties of the wrapping, in particular strength, hardness and rigidity, can be varied such that upon opening the actual container closure, the wrapping rips or not—and dependently upon this the sounds are produced at the ripping point or at another point where the content flows out of the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, drink bottles are provided with a crown cap closure of a known design, and in particular with a so-called twist-off crown cap, or cans of drink are provided with a pull closure of a known design which additionally have a sound-producing wrapping.

This makes it possible, in a particularly inexpensive way, not only to produce sound-producing closures. In fact, in this way, even bottles which have already been closed in a conventional manner are subsequently provided in a further procedural step on a conventional encapsulation machine with a wrapping. One does not already need to decide when filling which bottles are to be provided with a sound producer. In fact, the bottles can be filled, transported and stored, and only subsequently be provided with the sound producer if so required. This facilitates the production of small series, e.g. for temporary sales campaigns.

The life of the closure, and in particular of the sound-producing wrapping can be increased by the wrapping being designed to have two or more layers. One possibility is e.g. a two-layer design with which the lower layer serves to cushion the upper layer from cutting and shearing forces, whereas the upper layer bursts upon opening and produces the sound.

In the following the invention is described in greater detail by means of exemplary embodiments of drink bottles with crown cap closures and of cans of drink illustrated in the drawings.

Here, in the first embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a section of the closure in the closed state, the sound-producing wrapping being made from an elastic tube,

FIG. 2 shows a section of the closure during the opening process.

In the second embodiment

FIG. 3 shows a section of the closure in the closed state, the sound-producing wrapping being made from a capsule,

FIG. 4 shows a section of the closure during the opening process,

and in the third embodiment

FIG. 5 shows a section of the can closure in the closed state, the sound-producing wrapping being made from an elastic piece of tube,

FIG. 6 shows a section of the closure during the opening process.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the cover 1 is a commercially available crown cap 1 which with its bent over edge covers the neck of the bottle 2 with a form fit. An elastic piece of tube 3 is pulled and tensioned over the cover 1. The properties of the piece of tube 3 correspond approximately to the mouthpiece of an inflatable balloon, as known as a child's toy and as an advertising medium. On the pressing point 4, where the piece of tube 3 rests directly against the neck of the bottle, it is pressed against the bottle 2 by means of a ring formed here on the tube which can be formed e.g. by rolling up the tube, along the circumference of the neck and with greater pressure than on the rest of the surface of the piece of tube 3. Therefore, when opening the bottle 2 (FIG. 2) the pressurised content of the bottle (gas) escapes, not through the pressing point 4, but along the path 5 at another point through an opening 6 in the piece of tube 3—this can be a previously formed opening 6 in the piece of tube 3 or a hole which is produced in the piece of tube 3 when opening the closure. Here the escaping content of the bottle produces a clear outflow sound because upon flowing out it displaces the elastic tube edge 7 on the edge of the hole and/or sets the surrounding air vibrating and/or starts to vibrate itself.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 a film or similar in the form of a capsule 16 is placed over the crown cap 1 on the bottle 2 and placed against the neck of the bottle. The capsule 16 can be formed e.g. by a pre-shaped plastic capsule being shrunk on or by a sheet of paper or plastic film being laid over the cover 1 and the overlaying parts of the sheet being laid along the neck of the bottle in substantially uniformly distributed folds so that a capsule 16 is produced which nestles against the neck of the bottle. At the point 17 where the edge of the capsule 16 rests against the neck of the bottle, the capsule 16 is securely attached (e.g. stuck) to the bottle 2 along the circumference of the neck or at least is pressed tightly against the neck of the bottle so that upon opening the bottle (FIG. 4) the excess pressure caused by the escaping gas 8 forces open the capsule 16 before pressure equalisation can be implemented in any other way; the forcing open produces a popping sound.

Premature occurrence of leakages when handling the bottle or at the start of the opening process can be counteracted by the film being provided with a crêpe-type structure or being arranged in folds.

A film made of brittle material, e.g. of aluminium foil, can be used. In particular, but not only when using a brittle material, premature leakages can also be prevented by the film being impregnated on one or both sides with paste.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, fitted to the top surface 18 of the cylindrical tin 12 is a conventional tear-back can closure 13 comprising pre-marked tear lines 14 in the cover material and a riveted on pull ring 15. An elastic piece of tube 11 is pulled and tensioned over the top surface 18 of the can 12. At the point 17 where the piece of tube 11 ends against the can wall (lateral surface), it is securely attached (e.g. stuck) to the can wall or at least is pressed tightly against the can wall such that upon opening the can 12 (FIG. 6) the excess pressure cased by escaping gas 8 escapes at a different point through an opening 9 in the piece of tube 11—this can be an opening 9 previously made in the piece of tube 11 or a hole which is produced in the piece of tube 11 upon opening the closure 13. Here the escaping content of the can produces a clear outflow sound because upon flowing out it sets the elastic tube edge 10 on the edge of the hole and/or the surrounding air vibrating and/or starts to vibrate itself.

If the wrapping (piece of tube or capsule) is given dimensions such that the container content escaping under the effect of the pressure not only escapes through a burst opening in the wrapping, but the container content spreads at least partially in the gap between the outer wall of the container and the wrapping, it can escape at least partially on the edge of the cap, producing sounds by setting the wrapping and/or the surrounding air vibrating and/or starting to vibrate itself.

The plurality of sounds that can be produced further increases if one adds specific sound-producing means on the flow path, the space between the outer wall of the container and the wrapping in particular being considered as the flow path. These specific sound-producing means can be bursting membranes, break-through tongues, disintegrating tongues, holed or flue pipes. Such means can be added as ready-made objects between the outer wall of the container and the wrapping. They can also be produced by special moulding of the outer wall of the container or of the wrapping. Here the special sound-producing means can be fitted at any point to the outer wall of the container because the flow of dispersing container content or a flow caused by the latter between the outer wall of the container and the wrapping can be conveyed to the specific sound-producing means. 

1. A closure for a pressurised container for producing an opening sound, the closure comprising: an openable closure member; and an outer wrapping that covers at least a portion of the closure member tightly so that upon opening the closure member, content of the container escaping under the effect of the pressure, which comprises gas and/or liquid, deforms and/or forces open and/or sets vibrating the wrapping while producing a sound.
 2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the wrapper is configured to not totally enclose the container, but covers at least the closure member, and wherein the wrapper is formed as a cap.
 3. The closure according to claim 2, wherein upon opening the closure member, the content of the container escapes at least partially through a gap between an outer wall of the container and an inner surface of the cap, and the escaping container content produces sound by deforming or vibrating the wrapping.
 4. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the content of the container escaping under the effect of the pressure is set vibrating itself instead of or in addition to the wrapping, or only sets surrounding air vibrating.
 5. The closure according to claim 1, wherein at least part of the escaping content of the container and/or flow of air caused by this is conveyed through a space between an outer wall of the container and the wrapping to a sound-producing means.
 6. The container closure according to claim 5, wherein the sound-producing means are formed by a moulding of the wrapping and/or the outer wall of the container such that a sound is produced when the content of the container flowing out under the effect of the pressure strikes the moulding.
 7. The closure according to claim 5, wherein the sound-producing means comprises an object which is added between the wrapping and the outer wall of the container so that when the content of the container flowing out under the effect of the pressure strikes the object a sound is produced.
 8. The closure according to claim 5, wherein the sound-producing means comprises a breakthrough tongue or disintegrating tongue which is set vibrating by the escaping container content or the air flowing past.
 9. The closure according to claim 5, wherein the sound-producing means comprises a hole or flue pipe against which the escaping container content or the air flowing past is set vibrating.
 10. The closure according to claim 5, wherein the sound-producing means comprises a membrane which is forced open by the pressure of the escaping container content and produces a sound.
 11. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the container is a bottle.
 12. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the container is a bottle and the wrapping comprises a piece of tube made of an elastic material and can expand and has elasticity such that an upper part of the tube encloses the closure member tightly and a lower part of the tube reaches over a lower edge of the closure member and also encloses a neck of the bottle tightly such that upon opening the closure member, the content of the bottle escaping under the effect of the pressure escapes through an opening in the piece of tube produced upon opening the closure member or already made when producing the piece of tube, and in so doing causes a sound to be produced.
 13. The closure according to claim 12, wherein an edge of the tube and/or another part of the tube and/or the outflowing content of the container and/or surrounding air is/are set vibrating.
 14. The closure according to claim 12, wherein between the tube and an outer wall of the container there is an object which is added and/or the outer wall of the container is moulded such that when the container content flowing out under the effect of the pressure strikes the object or the moulding a sound is produced.
 15. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the container is a bottle and the wrapping is made from a thin, strong material which is shaped around an end of a neck of the bottle and the wrapping is shaped as a capsule, an edge of the capsule being connected to the neck of the bottle or at least placed tightly and dimensionally stablely against the neck of the bottle such that upon opening the bottle the pressure difference produced forces open the capsule before pressure equalisation can be implemented in any other way.
 16. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the container is a bottle having a neck, and the wrapping is made from a thin, strong material that is shaped as a capsule that extends around the neck of the bottle, and wherein upon opening the bottle the content of the bottle escaping under the effect of the pressure escapes through a gap between an outer wall of the neck of the bottle and an inner wall of the capsule and in so doing produces a clear outflow sound by the capsule and/or the outflowing content of the container and/or surrounding air being set vibrating.
 17. The closure according to claim 16 wherein the wrapping is shaped and/or folded such that against the shape or folding the outflowing content of the container and/or air flowing by produce a sound.
 18. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure member comprises a crown cap.
 19. The closure according to claim 18, wherein the crown cap is configured to be opened by turning the crown cap.
 20. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the container is a cylindrical can.
 21. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the container is a cylindrical can and the wrapping is a piece of tube made of an elastic material and can expand and has elasticity such that an upper part of the tube covers a top surface of the can and a lower part of the tube encloses a wall of the can tightly such that upon opening the closure member, the content of the can escaping under the effect of the pressure escapes through an opening in the piece of tube produced upon opening the closure member or already made when producing the piece of tube and in so doing produces a sound.
 22. The closure according to claim 21, wherein an edge of the tube and/or another part of the tube and/or the outflowing container content and/or surrounding air is/are set vibrating.
 23. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the container is a cylindrical can and the wrapping is made from a thin, strong material which is shaped around a top surface of the can and about an upper part of an outer lateral surface of the can, and the wrapping is shaped as a capsule, the edge of the capsule being attached to the outer lateral surface or at least being placed tightly and dimensionally stablely against the outer lateral surface such that upon opening the can the pressure difference produced forces open the capsule before pressure equalisation can be implemented in any other way.
 24. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the container is a cylindrical can and the wrapping is made from a thin, strong material that is shaped as a capsule that extends around a top surface of the can and about an upper part of an outer wall of the can, and wherein upon opening the can the content of the can escaping under the effect of the pressure escapes through a gap between the outer wall of the can and an inner wall of the capsule and in so doing produces a clear outflow sound by the capsule and/or the outflowing content of the can and/or surrounding air being set vibrating.
 25. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the wrapping is made from a thin, brittle material.
 26. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the wrapping is made from an aluminum foil.
 27. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the wrapping is impregnated on one or both sides with a strengthening paste.
 28. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the wrapping has a crêpe-type structure or is laid in folds.
 29. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the wrapping is moulded onto the closure member.
 30. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the wrapping is moulded onto the container using an immersion process.
 31. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the wrapping comprises two or more layers. 